Search

Going natural and starting a regimen along with trying to find products and tools can be overwhelming. The one thing you should remember is to keep it simple especially in the beginning. It’s so easy to become a product junkie and start buying into every product or tool you see on YouTube and the blogs. Another thing to remember is that what works for someone else may not work for you even if you’re related or have a similar hair type, so always do lots of research by watching and reading reviews on products before you go out and purchase products and tools. You should also keep in mind that you don’t need to spend lots of money on products either a lot of products many naturals use can be found in your kitchen cabinets or in your local drugstores, grocery stores, or health food stores. Anywho, I wanted to share the basic tools I’ve used through out my journey so far and maybe it can help someone looking to start their own regimen.

1. Sulfate free shampoo- Sulfate free shampoos cleanses your hair without all the harsh cleansers that are found in your regular shampoos, which strips your hair of everything even it’s natural oils causing your hair to feel dry and sometimes become matted.

2. Conditioners-Conditioners have so many purposes in a natural’s regimen they can be used for deep conditioning, rinse out conditioning treatments after washes, co-washes, leave-ins and some can even be used a stylers. (Make sure to read the labels or instructions to determine whether a conditioner should be used as a leave-in, rinse out, or deep conditioner but all three should have a place in your regimen)

3. Detangling tools- Detangle tools can vary from your fingers, to wide tooth combs, paddle brushes, The Tangle Teezer, Denmen brushes and many many others. These tools help you to detangle your hair and remove shed hairs & tangles, they’re also good for smoothing product through your hair for a more even distribution.

4. Oils- Oils are a MUST in every natural’s regimen. Oils help to seal in the moisture in your strands after applying water or a water based product to your strands. Oils are another mutli-purpose product, you can use your oils as a hot oil treatment, a pre-poo treatment, to baggy your ends, oil rinses, sealing your ends, to help reduce frizz when unraveling twists or braids, adding to your conditioners for an extra lil kick or to add slip to a conditioner for detangling.

5. Spray bottle filled with water- Another must have for any natural, water is the best moisturizer for natural hair. You can use your spray bottle to re-wet your hair if it starts to dry while you’re styling or detangling.

6. Applicator bottles (optional)- Applicator bottles are great to have on hand to store your oils in. Because the bottle top has an applicator tip it’s easier to apply oil to your scalp and hair without having to pour it in your hands and have it running all down your arms. I hate that! ;(

7. Hair pins, clips, headbands, and other accessories (optional)- Hair pins, bobby pins, headbands and other accessories are essential in a regimen. These simple accessories could be just what you need to change or spice up a hairstyle. No matter if you have a TWA or waist-length hair you can never have to many hair accessories.

8. A pair hair shears- This is another essential in your regimen, you should keep a good pair of shears on hand to keep your ends trimmed, dusted and to cut out SSKs or tangles.

9. Styling aids- Styling aids come in many different variations; creams, butters, pomades, gels, gel-creams, and many others and help hold your twist, braids, curls, and coils in place to create your styles.

10. Flexi rod or perm rods- Curling rods are great to have on hand to do curly styles, braid/twist ~n~ curl outs, adding curls to the ends of twists and braids, and they’re a transitioner’s bestfriend because they create a curl that helps blend the two different hair textures together (the new growth and relaxed ends).

11. Butterfly clips or clips- These help you to keep your hair in place and sectioned off as you apply product or style your hair.

12. Last but definitely not least is a satin scarf, bonnet or pillowcase – You will need a least one of these things to protect your hair from those cotton sheets, pillows and pillowcases and blankets from sucking the moisture out your hair while you’re sleeping. No more waking up to broken hairs on your pillows and sheets! *TIP* You should buy at least two bonnets, pillowcases, and/or scarves to rotate between, the oils still soak through the fabrics some, so you’ll need to wash them often to prevent your face from breaking out. 🙂

Oh! and one more last thing, one of the most important things you’ll need along your journey is patience. It is so important to remain patient during your journey no matter how tough things get. Not everything someone does to their hair will work for you so you have to stick it out and try different things and techniques until you find the one that works best for you.